Ed Sheeran has reportedly said that if he loses the ongoing copyright infringement lawsuit, he will quit music for good. The suit has been filed by the heirs of Ed Townsend, co-writer and composer of Marvin Gaye's song "Let's Get It On." They allege that Sheeran unlawfully used the "heart" of the song in his hit "Thinking Out Loud" by copying its "harmonic progressions," "melodic and rhythmic elements," and "repeating it continuously" throughout his song. Sheeran, however, has denied the allegations and argued that Gaye's song only contains routine elements that are not unique or protectable. The lawsuit specifically focuses on the musical building blocks of Gaye's song, rather than its lyrics or overall feel.

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"If that happens, I'm done, I'm stopping," Sheeran said as per the Daily Mail when he was asked what he feels about the impact on him.&nbsp;

"I find it really insulting to devote my whole life to being a performer and a songwriter and have someone diminish it," he added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/explained-why-ed-sheeran-is-facing-copyright-infringement-lawsuit-588181">Explained: Why Ed Sheeran is facing copyright infringement lawsuit</a>

Townsend, who was a singer, songwriter, and lawyer and also wrote the 1958 R&amp;B doo-wop hit "For Your Love," passed away in 2003.&nbsp;

Sheeran has earlier said that this type of litigation is damaging to the songwriting industry and that claims are being made with the idea that a settlement will be cheaper than taking the case to court, even if there's no basis for the claim. He pointed out that coincidence is bound to happen if 60,000 songs are being released every day on Spotify.&nbsp;

He has said that he has received encouragement from other performers who share his concerns about litigation resulting from their songwriting, though he has not named anyone.

Ed Sheeran has reportedly said that if he loses the ongoing copyright infringement lawsuit, he will quit music for good. The suit has been filed by the heirs of Ed Townsend, co-writer and composer of Marvin Gaye's song "Let's Get It On.

Ed Sheeran has reportedly said that if he loses the ongoing copyright infringement lawsuit, he will quit music for good. The suit has been filed by the heirs of Ed Townsend, co-writer and composer of Marvin Gaye's song "Let's Get It On." They allege that Sheeran unlawfully used the "heart" of the song in his hit "Thinking Out Loud" by copying its "harmonic progressions," "melodic and rhythmic elements," and "repeating it continuously" throughout his song. Sheeran, however, has denied the allegations and argued that Gaye's song only contains routine elements that are not unique or protectable. The lawsuit specifically focuses on the musical building blocks of Gaye's song, rather than its lyrics or overall feel. "If that happens, I'm done, I'm stopping," Sheeran said as per the Daily Mail when he was asked what he feels about the impact on him. "I find it really insulting to devote my whole life to being a performer and a songwriter and have someone diminish it," he added. Also Read: Explained: Why Ed Sheeran is facing copyright infringement lawsuit Townsend, who was a singer, songwriter, and lawyer and also wrote the 1958 R&B doo-wop hit "For Your Love," passed away in 2003. Sheeran has earlier said that this type of litigation is damaging to the songwriting industry and that claims are being made with the idea that a settlement will be cheaper than taking the case to court, even if there's no basis for the claim. He pointed out that coincidence is bound to happen if 60,000 songs are being released every day on Spotify. He has said that he has received encouragement from other performers who share his concerns about litigation resulting from their songwriting, though he has not named anyone.

Ed Sheeran threatens to quit music if he loses copyright lawsuit: 'I find it really insulting...'

Ed Sheeran, the popular English singer, is currently embroiled in a copyright infringement lawsuit. The heirs of Ed Townsend, co-writer and composer of Marvin Gaye's song "Let's Get It On," have accused Sheeran of unlawfully using the "heart" of the song in his hit "Thinking Out Loud." The heirs claim that Sheeran copied the song's "harmonic progressions," "melodic and rhythmic elements," and "repeated it continuously" throughout his song. However, Sheeran denies the allegations and argues that Gaye's song only has routine elements that are not unique or protectable. The lawsuit focuses on the musical building blocks of Gaye's song, not the lyrics or the overall feel.&nbsp;

The jury is tasked with deciding whether Sheeran copied these building blocks, which are recorded on sheet music filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Townsend's family has been vocal about the case. Kathryn Townsend Griffin, Townsend's daughter, is the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit. While testifying, she said that she believes Sheeran is a fantastic artist with a bright future, but she has to protect her father's legacy.

Townsend, who was a singer, songwriter, and lawyer and also wrote the 1958 R&amp;B doo-wop hit "For Your Love," passed away in 2003.&nbsp;

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<h2>What is Ed Sheeran's response?</h2>

Sheeran has argued that "most pop songs can fit over most pop songs," citing "Let It Be" by the Beatles and "No Woman, No Cry" by Bob Marley as examples. He also played a four-chord progression from "Thinking Out Loud," and Alexander Stewart, a musicologist for the plaintiffs, argued that Sheeran's second chord is similar to the minor one in the same position in the "Let's Get It On" progression. Sheeran responded by demonstrating a version with a major chord that he said he played at "every single gig."

Sheeran believes that this type of litigation is damaging to the songwriting industry and that claims are being made with the idea that a settlement will be cheaper than taking the case to court, even if there's no basis for the claim. He pointed out that coincidence is bound to happen if 60,000 songs are being released every day on Spotify.&nbsp;

Sheeran has also said that he couldn't believe that somebody would listen to one of his songs and then "diminish it by saying I stole it," adding that he found it really insulting.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-ed-sheeran-gets-support-from-fellow-performers-in-copyright-trial-588055">Ed Sheeran gets support from fellow performers in copyright trial</a>

<h2>Support of peers for Ed Sheeran</h2>

Sheeran has said that he has received encouragement from other performers who share his concerns about litigation resulting from their songwriting, though he did not name anyone. He offered a spirited defence during his second day on the witness stand on May 1&nbsp;and stated that all songwriters view such allegations as a threat to their work. The trial, which is now in its second week, stems from a lawsuit filed by Ed Townsend's heirs several years ago. They are seeking unspecified damages.

<h2>Not the first copyright infringement suit against Ed Sheeran</h2>

This case is just one of several that Sheeran has faced over alleged copyright infringement. He is facing two other lawsuits in the same courthouse (Manhattan federal court)&nbsp;over the alleged similarities between "Thinking Out Loud" and "Let's Get It On," filed by a company that holds an 11.11 per cent stake in "Let's Get It On." Sheeran has also faced litigation for allegedly copying aspects of the song "Amazing" in his hit "Photograph," and for copying Sami Chokri's song "Oh Why" in his song "Shape of You." He went on to win the latter but said “claims like this are way too common now and have become a culture where a claim is made with the idea that a settlement will be cheaper than taking it to court, even if there’s no base for the claim."

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-explained--controversy-around-friends-a-classic-sitcom-or-a-relic-of-a-less-diverse-era-577770">Explained | Controversy around Friends: A classic sitcom or a relic of a less diverse era?</a>

<h2>Concerns over the impact of litigations on music industry</h2>

In the trial, Sheeran has raised concerns about the impact of litigation on the music industry. Many in the industry fear that the proliferation of lawsuits over alleged similarities between songs could stifle creativity and innovation, leading to an adverse effect on musicians, who would be discouraged from taking risks and experimenting with new sounds and styles. If every chord progression, melody, or rhythm is potentially subject to litigation, singers and songwriters may be hesitant to incorporate elements from other songs or genres into their own work and go out of the way to check whether the tune of their song might sound similar to some other song. This could lead to a homogenisation of music, with fewer new sounds and ideas being introduced.

Also Read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-explained-how-john-wick-films-use-limited-dialogue-to-build-enigma-around-keanu-reeves-baba-yaga-576650">&nbsp;Explained: How John Wick films use limited dialogue to build enigma around Keanu Reeves' Baba Yaga</a>

Also, the cost and time involved in defending against lawsuits could be prohibitive for independent or emerging musicians, who may not have the resources to fight back. This could create a power dynamic where established artists or companies with deep pockets are better equipped to withstand litigation and assert their ownership of musical elements, while smaller or newer players may be forced to settle or give up their claims.

If that weren't enough, there is a thing called 'sampling' in music, which refers to the practice of taking a portion, or a sample, of an existing sound recording and incorporating it into a new composition.&nbsp;The process of sampling has been widely used in various music genres, such as hip-hop, electronic, and pop, to create new songs by blending pre-existing elements with new sounds and lyrics. The practice is prevalent and&nbsp;things could heat up, if legal measures were taken to counter it.

Ultimately, the outcome of the Sheeran lawsuit and others like it could have far-reaching implications for the music industry.

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Ed Sheeran, the popular English singer, is currently embroiled in a copyright infringement lawsuit. The heirs of Ed Townsend, co-writer and composer of Marvin Gaye's song "Let's Get It On," have accused Sheeran of unlawfully using the "heart" of the song in his hit "Thinking Out Loud.

Ed Sheeran, the popular English singer, is currently embroiled in a copyright infringement lawsuit. The heirs of Ed Townsend, co-writer and composer of Marvin Gaye's song "Let's Get It On," have accused Sheeran of unlawfully using the "heart" of the song in his hit "Thinking Out Loud." The heirs claim that Sheeran copied the song's "harmonic progressions," "melodic and rhythmic elements," and "repeated it continuously" throughout his song. However, Sheeran denies the allegations and argues that Gaye's song only has routine elements that are not unique or protectable. The lawsuit focuses on the musical building blocks of Gaye's song, not the lyrics or the overall feel. The jury is tasked with deciding whether Sheeran copied these building blocks, which are recorded on sheet music filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Townsend's family has been vocal about the case. Kathryn Townsend Griffin, Townsend's daughter, is the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit. While testifying, she said that she believes Sheeran is a fantastic artist with a bright future, but she has to protect her father's legacy. Townsend, who was a singer, songwriter, and lawyer and also wrote the 1958 R&B doo-wop hit "For Your Love," passed away in 2003. What is Ed Sheeran's response? Sheeran has argued that "most pop songs can fit over most pop songs," citing "Let It Be" by the Beatles and "No Woman, No Cry" by Bob Marley as examples. He also played a four-chord progression from "Thinking Out Loud," and Alexander Stewart, a musicologist for the plaintiffs, argued that Sheeran's second chord is similar to the minor one in the same position in the "Let's Get It On" progression. Sheeran responded by demonstrating a version with a major chord that he said he played at "every single gig." Sheeran believes that this type of litigation is damaging to the songwriting industry and that claims are being made with the idea that a settlement will be cheaper than taking the case to court, even if there's no basis for the claim. He pointed out that coincidence is bound to happen if 60,000 songs are being released every day on Spotify. Sheeran has also said that he couldn't believe that somebody would listen to one of his songs and then "diminish it by saying I stole it," adding that he found it really insulting. Also Read: Ed Sheeran gets support from fellow performers in copyright trial Support of peers for Ed Sheeran Sheeran has said that he has received encouragement from other performers who share his concerns about litigation resulting from their songwriting, though he did not name anyone. He offered a spirited defence during his second day on the witness stand on May 1 and stated that all songwriters view such allegations as a threat to their work. The trial, which is now in its second week, stems from a lawsuit filed by Ed Townsend's heirs several years ago. They are seeking unspecified damages. Not the first copyright infringement suit against Ed Sheeran This case is just one of several that Sheeran has faced over alleged copyright infringement. He is facing two other lawsuits in the same courthouse (Manhattan federal court) over the alleged similarities between "Thinking Out Loud" and "Let's Get It On," filed by a company that holds an 11.11 per cent stake in "Let's Get It On." Sheeran has also faced litigation for allegedly copying aspects of the song "Amazing" in his hit "Photograph," and for copying Sami Chokri's song "Oh Why" in his song "Shape of You." He went on to win the latter but said “claims like this are way too common now and have become a culture where a claim is made with the idea that a settlement will be cheaper than taking it to court, even if there’s no base for the claim." Also Read: Explained | Controversy around Friends: A classic sitcom or a relic of a less diverse era? Concerns over the impact of litigations on music industry In the trial, Sheeran has raised concerns about the impact of litigation on the music industry. Many in the industry fear that the proliferation of lawsuits over alleged similarities between songs could stifle creativity and innovation, leading to an adverse effect on musicians, who would be discouraged from taking risks and experimenting with new sounds and styles. If every chord progression, melody, or rhythm is potentially subject to litigation, singers and songwriters may be hesitant to incorporate elements from other songs or genres into their own work and go out of the way to check whether the tune of their song might sound similar to some other song. This could lead to a homogenisation of music, with fewer new sounds and ideas being introduced. Also Read: Explained: How John Wick films use limited dialogue to build enigma around Keanu Reeves' Baba Yaga Also, the cost and time involved in defending against lawsuits could be prohibitive for independent or emerging musicians, who may not have the resources to fight back. This could create a power dynamic where established artists or companies with deep pockets are better equipped to withstand litigation and assert their ownership of musical elements, while smaller or newer players may be forced to settle or give up their claims. If that weren't enough, there is a thing called 'sampling' in music, which refers to the practice of taking a portion, or a sample, of an existing sound recording and incorporating it into a new composition. The process of sampling has been widely used in various music genres, such as hip-hop, electronic, and pop, to create new songs by blending pre-existing elements with new sounds and lyrics. The practice is prevalent and things could heat up, if legal measures were taken to counter it. Ultimately, the outcome of the Sheeran lawsuit and others like it could have far-reaching implications for the music industry. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained: Why Ed Sheeran is facing copyright infringement lawsuit

During a recent copyright trial where Ed Sheeran is accused of stealing material from Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" to make a new tune a decade ago, the British singer said that he has received encouragement from other performers who share his concerns about litigation resulting from their songwriting. Sheeran offered a spirited defence during his second day on the witness stand and stated that all songwriters view such allegations as a threat to their work. The trial, which is now in its second week, stems from a lawsuit filed by Ed Townsend's heirs several years ago. They are seeking unspecified damages.

During an opening statement last week, Townsend attorney Ben Crump claimed that a Zurich concert clip in which Sheeran can be heard singing on stage between "Let's Get It On" and the alleged offending song, "Thinking Out Loud," amounted to "smoking gun" proof that Sheeran was violating copyrights.

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Sheeran's attorney, Ilene Farkas, countered Crump's claim by providing the jury with a mini-concert on Monday from her client. Sheeran picked up a guitar from behind his witness chair whenever she asked him to demonstrate how he could switch from his song to somebody else's and back again in a practice known as mashups. Sheeran said he used the mashups to "spice it up a bit" during concerts, generally choosing songs that utilized similar chords.

Sheeran stated that he did not copy anything from "Let's Get It On" when he wrote his song and expressed his admiration for Van Morrison, calling the Northern Irish singer "one of the most important influences in my life". He said his record label even referred to "Thinking Out Loud" as "the Van Morrison song".

Sheeran's good humour all but vanished when he faced cross-examination as attorney Patrick Frank asked him about testimony from an expert witness. Sheeran said he couldn't believe that somebody would listen to one of his songs and then "diminish it by saying I stole it," adding that he found it really insulting.

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During a recent copyright trial where Ed Sheeran is accused of stealing material from Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" to make a new tune a decade ago, the British singer said that he has received encouragement from other performers who share his concerns about litigation resulting from their songwriting.

During a recent copyright trial where Ed Sheeran is accused of stealing material from Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" to make a new tune a decade ago, the British singer said that he has received encouragement from other performers who share his concerns about litigation resulting from their songwriting. Sheeran offered a spirited defence during his second day on the witness stand and stated that all songwriters view such allegations as a threat to their work. The trial, which is now in its second week, stems from a lawsuit filed by Ed Townsend's heirs several years ago. They are seeking unspecified damages. During an opening statement last week, Townsend attorney Ben Crump claimed that a Zurich concert clip in which Sheeran can be heard singing on stage between "Let's Get It On" and the alleged offending song, "Thinking Out Loud," amounted to "smoking gun" proof that Sheeran was violating copyrights. Sheeran's attorney, Ilene Farkas, countered Crump's claim by providing the jury with a mini-concert on Monday from her client. Sheeran picked up a guitar from behind his witness chair whenever she asked him to demonstrate how he could switch from his song to somebody else's and back again in a practice known as mashups. Sheeran said he used the mashups to "spice it up a bit" during concerts, generally choosing songs that utilized similar chords. Sheeran stated that he did not copy anything from "Let's Get It On" when he wrote his song and expressed his admiration for Van Morrison, calling the Northern Irish singer "one of the most important influences in my life". He said his record label even referred to "Thinking Out Loud" as "the Van Morrison song". Sheeran's good humour all but vanished when he faced cross-examination as attorney Patrick Frank asked him about testimony from an expert witness. Sheeran said he couldn't believe that somebody would listen to one of his songs and then "diminish it by saying I stole it," adding that he found it really insulting. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Ed Sheeran gets support from fellow performers in copyright trial

Heirs of the composer for Marvin Gaye&#39;s &#39;Let&#39;s Get It On&#39;&nbsp;sued British musician Ed Sheeran on Tuesday, claiming his hit song &#39;Thinking Out Loud&#39; copies core elements of the late soul singer&#39;s 1973 track.

The copyright infringement lawsuit was filed by the heirs of Ed Townsend, who co-wrote the lyrics to &#39;Let&#39;s Get It On&#39; in 1973 and created its musical composition, according to the complaint filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York.

Representatives for defendants Sheeran, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, and Atlantic Records did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The lawsuit, which asks for damages to be assessed at a jury trial, argues that the harmonic progressions, melodic and rhythmic elements central to &#39;Let&#39;s Get It On&#39; formed the structure of Sheeran&#39;s &#39;Thinking Out Loud&#39;.

&quot;The Defendants copied the &#39;heart&#39; of &#39;Let&#39;s&#39; and repeated it continuously throughout &#39;Thinking,&#39;&quot; the lawsuit said. &quot;The melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic compositions of &#39;Thinking&#39; are substantially and/or strikingly similar to the drum composition of &#39;Let&#39;s.&#39;&quot;

Grammy Award-winning Sheeran has become one of Britain&#39;s top-selling artists in the past two years, and has written and co-written tracks for artists such as One Direction, Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber.

The lawsuit came two months after California-based musicians sued Sheeran for $20 million over his hit song &#39;Photograph&#39; in an unrelated case.

Gaye&#39;s family last year successfully sued R&amp;B recording artists Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams for copyright infringement in another unrelated case over their hit single &#39;Blurred Lines&#39;, winning a $7.4 million judgement. 
 
(Reuters)

A copyright infringement lawsuit was filed by the heirs of Ed Townsend, who co-wrote the lyrics to the 1973 track?'Let's Get It On'

Heirs of the composer for Marvin Gaye's 'Let's Get It On' sued British musician Ed Sheeran on Tuesday, claiming his hit song 'Thinking Out Loud' copies core elements of the late soul singer's 1973 track. The copyright infringement lawsuit was filed by the heirs of Ed Townsend, who co-wrote the lyrics to 'Let's Get It On' in 1973 and created its musical composition, according to the complaint filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York. Representatives for defendants Sheeran, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, and Atlantic Records did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The lawsuit, which asks for damages to be assessed at a jury trial, argues that the harmonic progressions, melodic and rhythmic elements central to 'Let's Get It On' formed the structure of Sheeran's 'Thinking Out Loud'. "The Defendants copied the 'heart' of 'Let's' and repeated it continuously throughout 'Thinking,'" the lawsuit said. "The melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic compositions of 'Thinking' are substantially and/or strikingly similar to the drum composition of 'Let's.'" Grammy Award-winning Sheeran has become one of Britain's top-selling artists in the past two years, and has written and co-written tracks for artists such as One Direction, Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber. The lawsuit came two months after California-based musicians sued Sheeran for $20 million over his hit song 'Photograph' in an unrelated case. Gaye's family last year successfully sued R&B recording artists Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams for copyright infringement in another unrelated case over their hit single 'Blurred Lines', winning a $7.4 million judgement. (Reuters)

Ed Sheeran to face courtroom music over 'Thinking Out Loud'

Two California-based musicians are suing British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran for $20 million over his hit song &quot;Photograph,&quot; which they claim bears a similar structure to one of their songs, according to court documents filed on Wednesday. 
 
The copyright infringement lawsuit was filed by Martin Harrington, a songwriter and producer, and Thomas Leonard, a songwriter signed to Harrington&#39;s company HaloSongs, in federal court in the Central District of California. 
 
The two musicians allege Sheeran&#39;s ballad &quot;Photograph,&quot; released as a single in 2015, has the same musical composition to their song &quot;Amazing,&quot; which they said they wrote in 2009. 
 
Other named defendants include Snow Patrol&#39;s Johnny McDaid, credited as a co-writer of &quot;Photograph,&quot; as well as units of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Warner Music Group and its subsidiary, Atlantic Recording Corporation. 
 
Representatives for Sheeran, McDaid, Sony Music, Warner Music and Atlantic did not immediately respond to Reuters&#39; requests for comment on Wednesday. 
 
Harrington and Leonard are seeking a jury trial and damages in excess of $20 million, as well as royalties from the song. 
 
In documents that include musical note comparison and chord breakdowns of the two songs, Harrington and Leonard claim the chorus of Sheeran&#39;s &quot;Photograph&quot; shares 39 identical notes with &quot;Amazing,&quot; saying the similarities are &quot;instantly recognizable to the ordinary observer.&quot; 
 
The documents say that &quot;Photograph&quot; has sold more than 3.5 million copies worldwide, and most recently was featured prominently in romantic drama movie &quot;Me Before You,&quot; released last week, as well as trailers for the film. 
 
Grammy-winning Sheeran, 25, has become one of UK&#39;s top-selling artists in the past two years&nbsp;and has written and co-written tracks for artists such as One Direction, Taylor Swift, and Justin Bieber. 
 
&quot;Photograph&quot; was the fifth single from Sheeran&#39;s breakout 2014 album &quot;x&quot; (pronounced &#39;multiply&#39;). The lawsuit says Sheeran had called the song &quot;the one that will change (his), kind of, career path.&quot; 
 
Harrington and Leonard&#39;s song &quot;Amazing&quot; was adapted into a single of the same name for British singer Matt Cardle, the 2010 winner of the UK&#39;s &quot;The X Factor&quot; reality singing competition. 
 
Cardle&#39;s &quot;Amazing&quot; to date has just over 1 million views on YouTube, while Sheeran&#39;s music video for &quot;Photograph&quot; has 208 million YouTube views. 
 
The lawsuit against Sheeran comes after the family of late soul singer Marvin Gaye successfully sued R&amp;B recording artists Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams for copyright infringement last year over their hit single &quot;Blurred Lines,&quot; winning a $7.4 million judgment.

Two California-based musicians allege Sheeran's song has the same musical composition as of their song 'Amazing'

Two California-based musicians are suing British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran for $20 million over his hit song "Photograph," which they claim bears a similar structure to one of their songs, according to court documents filed on Wednesday. The copyright infringement lawsuit was filed by Martin Harrington, a songwriter and producer, and Thomas Leonard, a songwriter signed to Harrington's company HaloSongs, in federal court in the Central District of California. The two musicians allege Sheeran's ballad "Photograph," released as a single in 2015, has the same musical composition to their song "Amazing," which they said they wrote in 2009. Other named defendants include Snow Patrol's Johnny McDaid, credited as a co-writer of "Photograph," as well as units of Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Warner Music Group and its subsidiary, Atlantic Recording Corporation. Representatives for Sheeran, McDaid, Sony Music, Warner Music and Atlantic did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment on Wednesday. Harrington and Leonard are seeking a jury trial and damages in excess of $20 million, as well as royalties from the song. In documents that include musical note comparison and chord breakdowns of the two songs, Harrington and Leonard claim the chorus of Sheeran's "Photograph" shares 39 identical notes with "Amazing," saying the similarities are "instantly recognizable to the ordinary observer." The documents say that "Photograph" has sold more than 3.5 million copies worldwide, and most recently was featured prominently in romantic drama movie "Me Before You," released last week, as well as trailers for the film. Grammy-winning Sheeran, 25, has become one of UK's top-selling artists in the past two years and has written and co-written tracks for artists such as One Direction, Taylor Swift, and Justin Bieber. "Photograph" was the fifth single from Sheeran's breakout 2014 album "x" (pronounced 'multiply'). The lawsuit says Sheeran had called the song "the one that will change (his), kind of, career path." Harrington and Leonard's song "Amazing" was adapted into a single of the same name for British singer Matt Cardle, the 2010 winner of the UK's "The X Factor" reality singing competition. Cardle's "Amazing" to date has just over 1 million views on YouTube, while Sheeran's music video for "Photograph" has 208 million YouTube views. The lawsuit against Sheeran comes after the family of late soul singer Marvin Gaye successfully sued R&B recording artists Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams for copyright infringement last year over their hit single "Blurred Lines," winning a $7.4 million judgment.

Ed Sheeran faces copyright lawsuit over hit song 'Photograph'